Aldermen and Jobs for Somerville Launch Campaign for Local Hire Ordinance

WHAT: Aldermen and Jobs for Somerville Announce Campaign to Pass Local Hiring Ordinance – With just 17% of residents employed in Somerville, community members are asking Aldermen to pass legislation that would provide local people with local jobs. At the Board of Aldermen meeting on Thursday, June 9th, Aldermen Bruce Desmond and Maryann Heuston will introduce a draft of a local hire ordinance, which would set aside 30% of both construction and permanent jobs for Somerville residents, as well as 10% for disadvantaged workers, on projects that receive City support. “People from Somerville shouldn’t have to go to other cities when there is work right here” says Jose Alvarez, Jobs for Somerville member and former employee of Ames Envelope, a factory that closed in 2010, “People will have to move out of the city.”

Join the Jobs for Somerville committee and the Aldermen at 6:45 outside of the aldermanic chambers for a press conference to announce the launch of this exciting campaign.

WHO: Local community members, organized by the Jobs for Somerville committee of the Somerville Community Corporation.

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Jobs for Somerville was founded by community members in response to the growing need for local jobs in Somerville. The committee is part of the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC), an organization dedicated to maintaining diversity and preserving affordability in Somerville by building and preserving housing, organizing for necessary policies and funding, and giving residents the financial skills they need to survive.